Pictured left to right: Confrere Belfiore Bologna, the Archbishop Paul Martin SM (Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington and Apostolic Administator of Christchurch), Confrere Bevan Killick (NZ Regional Hospitaller), Chris Walker, Damien Walker (the artist of the image of Our Lady), HE Archbishop Donatus Rugambwa (Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand), the Most Reverend Michael Gielen (Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland).

Report by Bevan Killick.

The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 15^th August, is New Zealand’s National Patronal Feast. Members and aspirants of the Order of Malta attended a special National Mass at St Mary of the Angels in Wellington on Sunday 15 August 2021 where New Zealand was rededicated to “Mary, Mother of God, Assumed into Heaven”.

New Zealand was first dedicated to Mary as “Our Lady Assumed into Heaven” by Bishop Jean-Baptist Pompallier when he celebrated the first Mass in New Zealand at Totara Point in the Hokianga on the 13^th of January 1838.

The multicultural Mass was presided over by His Eminence John Cardinal Dew, Archbishop of Wellington. The Cardinal was assisted by the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, the Most Reverend Paul Martin SM (Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington and Apostolic Administrator or Christchurch), the Most Reverend Stephen Lowe (Bishop of Hamilton), the Most Reverend Michael Dooley (Bishop of Dunedin) and the Most Reverend Michael Gielen (Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland) and about 50 priests.